Page 85 of Take A Number
My name on her lips sends a memory of the two of us naked in bed together, and I straighten my glasses and force the memory away. “Anytime. What’s going on? Everything okay with the grand opening? Is there a construction issue?”
“No construction issues. The grand opening is right on schedule. It should be a good turnout there,” she says to the table.
“That’s good,” I reply, willing her to look up and show me those eyes so I can stop remembering them with tears. “So, what’s the meeting today for exactly?”
Norah looks over at Max and gives him a wobbly smile. “Max, you know the technical stuff we discussed, so I’ll let you take it from here.”
“Technical stuff?” I frown as Max pulls out a large manila envelope and opens it in front of me.
“Yes, well…it’s not that technical, Dean. Basically, Norah would like to buy out your investment in Rise and Shine-Denver.”
“What?” I snap, my head jerking back like I’ve just been punched. “What are you talking about?”
Max shoots me a painfully polite smile. “Norah and I met yesterday, and we went through some of her options, and she feels it’s important for her to be the sole owner of her second location.”
“She doesn’t have the capital for that,” I bark, irritation spiking in my belly at this preposterous idea.
“I’m selling my apartment,” she states firmly, and I glance over to see her staring at me with emotionless eyes. “It’s not quite worth your full investment, but my accountant thinks I can swing a loan for the rest.”
“Your accountant?” I growl, losing all manner of professionalism. “Let me guess…Douche Convertible?”
She blinks rapidly. “Nate, you mean? Yes, we had a meeting yesterday, and he thinks this is something I’m able to do.”
I scoff at the idea that she met with that asshole after what happened at dinner last week. How the hell has she not fired him for the shit he said? I lick my lips and pin her with a look. “So, you’re not going to have a Boulder residence at all anymore?” I ask, my tone acidic.
“It’s really none of your business,” Norah quips, and her entire demeanor is giving me serious Elaine Donahue vibes.
“This is a joke.” I redirect my anger to Max. “Why are you okay with this, Max? She needed my investment to help launch her franchise.”
“We’re delaying the franchise plans for now.”
“What?” I exclaim and yank my glasses off to gape at him. “What the hell are you doing, Max? You’re her franchise director. You should be consulting her better than this.”
“Norah is my client, and I’m acting in the best interest of my client. She’s still proceeding with the franchise plan…just delaying it for…reasons.”
“What kind of reasons?”
“I’m going to Paris if you must know,” Norah bites, her voice wavering as she tilts her head and pins me with a fierce look like she’s going to claw my face out. “Once the Denver location is up and running, I’m going to take some time and stay with my friend from culinary school and do a little traveling. I want to have some fun and come back fully inspired before I launch.”
“But why now?” I groan, running a hand through my hair. “You’ve been working on this franchise for over a year. You’ve been dreaming about it for even longer. This is everything you wanted, and it’s ready. Why delay now? Because of me? Because of what happened between us?” I ask, not able to hold up the pretenses of a business meeting any longer.
“This isn’t about you, Dean,” she volleys back, her nostrils flaring. “I’ve made a pros and cons list over all of this, and I have a solid plan. And now that I don’t need working capital for the franchise right away, I can own the bakery outright with no partner.”
“But I’m a silent partner.”
“Not silent enough.” She turns her gaze to stare out the window, looking stiff and hard and nothing like the warm, ball-busting Norah I’ve grown to know these past couple of years.
I reach out to touch her hand, and she recoils like I’ve burned her. “You can’t do this, Norah.”
“Actually, she can.” Max winces and pushes the original contract I signed over to me. “It was a part of the agreement that she could buy you out at any time as long as it’s a fair offer both parties agree upon. You initialed here.”
I don’t bother looking at the contract because I don’t care what she’s offering. “Iknowshe can do this, but she shouldn’t. There was a reason she sought outside investment. The interest rate she’ll pay on a loan to buy me out has to be through the roof.”
“It’s terrible,” she huffs out a laugh.
“Then don’t do it.” My tone is venturing on begging, but I can’t help myself. The idea of not being a part of Norah’s life in this way kills me.
She shakes her head and pins me with emotionless eyes. “I learned the hard way not to mix business with pleasure once. I won’t do that again.”
